Water inlet for a linear move irrigation system

ABSTRACT

A water inlet for a linear move irrigation system wherein the water inlet is supported upon a wheeled frame means which travels along the bottom of an irrigation ditch adjacent one side thereof. The water inlet is fluidly connected to the end most support tower by a plurality of jointed pipes arranged such that the water inlet may be raised out of the irrigation ditch at times. The jointed connection of the pipes permits the water inlet to vertically move relative to the support tower to compensate for vertical differences in the irrigation ditch and the cart path upon which the support tower travels.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation application of Serial No. 07/765,180 invented byJohn A. Chapman, filed Sept. 25, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,810.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a linear move irrigation system and moreparticularly to a water inlet for a linear move irrigation system.

Linear move irrigation systems such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.4,172,551, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by referencethereto to complete this disclosure, generally comprise an elongatedwater conduit which extends over the field to be irrigated and which issupported by a series of support towers spaced along the length thereof.Each of the support towers is self-propelled so that the conduit may bemoved across the field to be irrigated. The linear move irrigationsystem such as disclosed in the '551 patent normally obtains the watertherefor from a canal or ditch which extends along one side of thefield. Normally, a road or cart path is provided along the length of theditch adjacent thereto with the endmost support tower traveling alongthe road or cart path. Normally, a water inlet pipe or hose isoperatively connected to the support tower positioned on the road withone end of the water inlet pipe being positioned in the ditch so thatwater may be drawn into the system.

In the United States, the road adjacent the ditch is normally located atthe same elevation as the top of the ditch or slightly below the top ofthe ditch so that very little vertical movement of the water inlet pipeis required to compensate for vertical elevational differences betweenthe road and the ditch as the endmost support tower moves along theroad. However, in some foreign countries, the vertical distance betweenthe top of the ditch and the road may vary considerably such that thesurface of the road may be 1.5 meters above the top of the ditch in somelocations and may be located 1.5 meters below the top of the ditch inother locations. A further complicating fact is that there may very wellbe a second linear move irrigation system on the opposite side of theirrigation ditch which is also moving along the ditch so it is necessarythat some means be provided to enable the respective systems to meet andpass one another, if necessary.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide animproved water inlet for a linear move irrigation system.

A further object of the invention is to provide a linear move irrigationsystem having an inlet pipe means associated therewith including meansfor permitting the water inlet pipe to move vertically with respect tothe support tower nearest the irrigation ditch to compensate forelevational differences between the ditch and the road surface uponwhich the endmost support tower is traveling.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a linear moveirrigation system including a water inlet pipe having means associatedtherewith for raising the water inlet pipe out of the irrigation ditchat times to permit the water inlet pipe to be passed over a gate or thelike located in the irrigation ditch.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a linear moveirrigation system having a water inlet pipe means associated therewithincluding means for yieldably urging the water inlet pipe means towardsone side of the irrigation ditch.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a linear moveirrigation system having a wheeled water intake pipe means.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a linear moveirrigation system including a wheeled water inlet pipe and float meansassociated therewith which counteracts the weight of the water in thewater inlet pipe so that the inlet pipe may be more easily urged towardsthe side of the irrigation ditch.

These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of the water inlet pipe of this invention connectedto a support tower of a linear move system;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus with the phantom linesillustrating the water inlet pipe having been raised out of theirrigation ditch;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 except that the relative verticaldistance between the roadway and the top of the ditch is less than inFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 except that the roadway isshown as being located at a level below that of the top of theirrigation ditch;

FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating a pair of linear irrigation systemstaking water from the same irrigation ditch;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the means by which the waterinlet pipe is urged towards the side of a ditch nearest the supporttower; and

FIG. 8 is a side view of a portion of the structure of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a partial exploded perspective view of the inlet pipe portion;and

FIG. 10 is a partial perspective exploded view of an optional waterpressurization method.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A water inlet pipe for a linear move irrigation system is describedwhich has the ability to compensate for relative vertical elevationaldifferences between an irrigation ditch extending along the length ofthe field to be irrigated and the roadway adjacent thereto upon whichone of the support towers travels. A first pipe is operatively securedto the inlet side of a pump on the support tower and includes a portionwhich extends transversely outwardly from the support tower. A secondpipe is pivotally secured about a horizontal axis parallel to the lengthof the ditch, to the first pipe by means of a pipe joint. A third pipeis pivotally secured about a horizontal axis parallel to the length ofthe ditch, to the outer end of the second pipe by means of a pipe joint.An inlet pipe portion is secured to the outer or lower end of the thirdpipe which travels along the bottom of the ditch adjacent one sidethereof. The opposite ends of the inlet pipe portion have wheels mountedthereon to enable the inlet pipe portion to roll along the ditch. Awinch is provided for raising the inlet pipe out of the irrigation ditchat times to enable the inlet pipe to pass over a gate or otherobstruction within the ditch. Means is also provided for urging theinlet pipe portion towards the side of the ditch adjacent the supporttower. An optional water pressurization means is also described whichpermits the roadway to be further above the ditch than could beaccommodated by the cart pump alone.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, the numeral 10 refers generally to an end supporttower having a water conduit 12 extending therefrom which would beconnected to the main water conduit extending over the field to beirrigated such as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,551. U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,551 isrelied upon herein to complete the details of the linear move irrigationsystem. The main water conduit is supported by a plurality ofself-propelled support towers in conventional fashion and would bepropelled along the length of the field in conventional fashion. Theinstant invention relates to the means by which the water or otherliquid is drawn from an irrigation canal or ditch 14 having a bottom 16and opposite sides 18 and 20.

Referring to FIG. 3, support tower 10 includes a wheeled frame means 22adapted to move along the roadway or cart path referred to generally bythe reference numeral 24 and which is positioned laterally of theirrigation ditch 14. As seen in the drawings, in some cases the roadway24 is located above the upper end or top of the ditch 14 (FIGS. 3 and 4)or may be located below the upper end or top of the irrigation ditch 14as illustrated in FIG. 5. Support tower 10 is provided with aconventional water pump 26 which is operated by a conventional powermeans such as an electric motor or gasoline engine. Pipe stub 28 extendsfrom the discharge side of pump 26 to the conduit 12.

Pipe 29 extends from the inlet side of the pump 26 and includes atransversely or laterally extending pipe portion 29A. A joint 30interconnects pipe portion 29A and pipe 32.

Joint 31 is provided at the outer end of pipe 32 and is identical tojoint 30. Since joint 30 is not shown in detail in the drawings, joint31 will be so described. As seen in FIG. 7, joint 31 includes pipeportion 33 which is in fluid communication with the outer end of pipe 32and which has water manifolds 34 and 36 connected to the outer endsthereof. The interior of pipe portion 33 is in fluid communication withthe interiors of the fluid manifolds 34 and 36. The outer ends of themanifolds 34 and 36 have a pipe portion 38 operatively pivotallyconnected thereto about a horizontal axis parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the irrigation ditch. Pipe 40A is in communication with theinterior of pipe portion 38 and extends transversely therefrom as seenin the drawings.

Pipe 40B is connected to pipe 40A by a gimbal-ring joint 42 provided topermit the pipe portion 40A and 40B to pivot relative to one anotherabout horizontal and vertical axes.

An elongated inlet pipe 44 is rotatably secured about a vertical axis,to the lower end of pipe portion 40B by joint 45. As seen in thedrawings, pipe 44 is provided with a plurality of holes 46 formedtherein. A pair of perforated screens 48 and 50 are positioned onopposite ends of the pipe 44 and are maintained thereon by means of apin 52 and key 54 arrangement as illustrated in FIG. 9. A pair of wheels56 and 58 are secured to one end of pipe 44 while a pair of wheels 60and 62 (not shown) are secured to the other end of the pipe 44. Wheels56 and 60 are adapted to roll upon the bottom of the ditch while wheels58 and 62 are adapted to engage the side of the ditch as seen in FIG. 3.A pair of floats 64 and 66 are secured to the screens 48 and 50 tocompensate for some of the weight in the inlet pipe so that the inletpipe may be urged more easily towards the side of the ditch nearest thesupport tower. A winch assembly 67 which includes winch cable 68 isprovided for raising and lowering the inlet pipe out of the ditch attimes so that the inlet pipe may be passed over an obstruction in theditch such as an irrigation gate or the like as seen in FIG. 3.

Bracket 70 is secured to the lower half of joint 31 and has a cable 72secured thereto which extends therefrom. Bracket 74 is mounted on pipe32 and has the rod 76 of a water cylinder 78 rigidly secured thereto.Cable 72 is secured to the movable body portion 80 of the water cylinder78. Water cylinder 78 has a piston 82 provided therein as seen in FIG.4. Water under pressure is supplied to the interior of the watercylinder 78 at 84 so that the water pressure within water cylinder 78will urge the cylinder body 80 away from bracket 74 or in other words,cause the rod 76 to be extended from the body 80. The water pressurewithin the water cylinder 78 causes the cable 72 to pull on the bracket70 which causes the water inlet pipe to be urged towards the side of theditch nearest the support tower so that there will be room for the inletpipe of a linear system located on the opposite side of the ditch shouldthe two pass. An air spring could be substituted for the water cylinder78 if so desired.

Thus the inlet pipe means, through its various flex joint connections,may move vertically relative to the support tower 10 such as when theroad surface 24 is located some distance above the upper end of theditch as illustrated in FIG. 3 and to pivotally move to the positionillustrated in FIG. 5 when the road surface 24 is located below theupper end of the irrigation ditch. The winch 67 provided on theapparatus also permits the inlet pipe means to be raised out of thecanal at times as previously described.

The provision of the water cylinder 78 ensures that the inlet pipe meanswill be positioned closely adjacent the side of a ditch closest to thesupport tower 10 as illustrated in the drawings to enable a pair ofsystems to pass one another as illustrated in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, thesecond system is referred to by the reference number 10'. The floats 64and 66 positioned on the inlet pipe compensate for the weight of thewater in the inlet pipe so that the water cylinder 78 may more easilymove the water inlet pipe adjacent the side 18 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 illustrates an optional water pressurization method to allow theroadway 24 to be farther above the ditch 14 than could be accommodatedby cart pump 26 alone. In FIG. 10, it can be seen that a water impeller86 is positioned in the pipe stub 88 which is welded to lead pipe 44.Shaft 90 extends upwardly from impeller 86 through pipe 38. A bearingand seal 92 embraces shaft 90 where it exits out through pipe 38. Pulley94 is mounted on the upper end of shaft 90 and has a V-belt 96 extendingtherearound. The numeral 98 refers to a motor preferably of the sevenhorsepower class in which it is adapted to drive the V-belt 96.

Thus, actuation of motor 98 causes the impeller 86 to rotate to assistin the pressurization of the water so that the roadway 24 may be fartherabove the ditch 14 than could be accommodated by the cart pump 26 alone.The embodiment of FIG. 10 is designed for an increased lift of the waterin the ditch.

Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of itsstated objectives.

I claim:
 1. A linear move irrigation system for irrigating a fieldcomprising,a conduit extending transversely from an elongated irrigationditch extending lengthwise adjacent the field, said ditch including abottom and opposite sides, said conduit supported above the ground by aseries of support towers each having drive means associated therewith, aseries of water dispensers located along the length of the conduit fordispensing water fed through the conduit to the field, the support towernearest the irrigation ditch adapted to move along a road adjacent theirrigation ditch and having an inlet pipe means extending therefromwhich is in fluid communication with the irrigation ditch, said inletpipe means also being in fluid communication with the conduit wherebywater in the irrigation ditch may be fed to the conduit, meanssupporting said inlet pipe means whereby said inlet pipe means mayvertically move with respect to said nearest support tower to compensatefor variations in the relative elevation between the road and theirrigation ditch, a pump means mounted on said nearest support towerwhich has inlet and outlet ends, the outlet end of said pump means beingin fluid communication with said conduit, said inlet pipe meanscomprising a connecting pipe means extending transversely outwards fromsaid nearest support tower and being connected to the inlet end of saidpump means, said connecting pipe means having a first pivotal pipe jointmeans provided therein which permits said inlet pipe means to move in avertical plane with respect to the irrigation ditch, and a secondpivotal pipe joint means provided therein outwardly of said firstpivotal pipe joint means which also permits said inlet pipe means tomove in a vertical plane with respect to said nearest support tower. 2.The irrigation system of claim 1 wherein said means for supporting saidinlet pipe means permits said inlet pipe means to travel along thebottom of the ditch regardless of the relative elevation between theroad and the irrigation ditch.
 3. The irrigation system of claim 1wherein a winch means is operatively connected to said inlet pipe meansfor raising said inlet pipe means relative to said irrigation ditch attimes.
 4. The irrigation system of claim 2 wherein means is provided foryieldably urging said inlet pipe means towards the side of the ditchnearest said support tower.
 5. The irrigation system of claim 1 whereinsaid inlet pipe means comprises an elongated, longitudinally extendinginlet pipe operatively connected to said conduit.
 6. The irrigationsystem of claim 5 wherein a wheel means is operatively second said inletpipe means.
 7. The irrigation system of claim 6 wherein a float means issecured to said inlet pipe means.
 8. The system of claim 6 wherein saidwheel means includes at least one wheel which engages the bottom of theirrigation ditch and includes at least one wheel which engages the sideof the irrigation ditch nearest the nearest support tower.
 9. Theirrigation system of claim 1 wherein a rotatable impeller means ispositioned in the connecting pipe means to assist the pump means indrawing water from the ditch.
 10. The irrigation system of claim 9wherein said impeller means is driven by and electric motor operativelyconnected thereto.
 11. The system of claim 9 wherein said impeller meansis positioned in said connecting pipe means at or below the water levelin the ditch.